Everything you need to know about a 'Free Ball' in snooker and how the rule affects game play.
'Free Ball' in snooker - what does it mean?
For many, the 'Free Ball' rule is one of the most complex regulations in professional snooker.
In the most simplistic terms, the ruling essentially enables a player to nominate any ball as the next legal object, even if it's not the ball that they would normally be required to hit.
Of course, players can't just opt to take a 'Free Ball' at will, it only comes into affect following a foul by the opponent, and is subject to the player at the table being unable to make full contact with both sides of a ball that they would typically be required to pot.
For example, if Player A committed a foul shot and Player B then came to the table in a 'snookered' position, whereby they were unable to hit both sides of any red ball on the table, then the referee would call a 'free ball' allowing Player B the option to play any other coloured ball (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink or black) as their nominated shot, with any pot counting as one point (the standard score for a red).
What causes a 'Free Ball' in snooker?
For the referee to declare a 'Free Ball', the following three situations must take place:
- A foul shot must be played by the opposing player.
- The incoming player must be unable to hit both sides of all legal object balls.
- The referee must agree that the 'snooker' is a direct result of a foul shot and call a 'Free Ball'.
How many points is a 'Free Ball' worth in snooker?
Usually a 'Free Ball' would be worth one point, the same as the red, but in a situation that a 'Free Ball' is called on a player when they are on the colours, then the value of the 'Free Ball' will be the same as the object ball that they would typically be attempting to hit.
What is the maximum break a player can make with a 'Free Ball' in snooker?
- 155 points
Providing a foul is made before the first red is potted, then a player could make use of the 'Free Ball' rule and register a maximum break of 155.
This is eight points more than the standard 147 maximum break, but could only be achieved by the player potting the 'Free Ball' and then potting the black, whilst then potting all 15 reds followed by the black, before clearing up the colours.
Whilst this has never been achieved in a professional match, Ronnie O'Sullivan did record a record 153 break in his World Open quarter-final showdown with Ryan Day in March 2026.
"Just want to say a big shoutout to all the people who have been messaging me, congratulating me on the 153," said O'Sullivan in a video on X.
"It was a pretty cool moment, really happy to do it. Thank you to everyone out there that has supported me."
